Deutsche Börse Photography Prize 2008

In 1996 The Photographer's Gallery on Great Newport Street in London set up their Photography Prize to award the international photographer who is judged to have made the greatest contribution to photography over the previous year. Previous winners include Andreas Gursky, Luc Delahaye and Juergen Teller so this is a seriously big deal. The award winner will be announced in March after which the exhibition moves on to C/O Berlin finishing at the Deutsche Börse HQ. Four photographers are shortlisted but only one can win the £30,000 prize put forward by Deutsche Börse. Let's meet the contenders...

Esko Männikkö, the Finnish photographer, has been nominated for his broad retrospective Cocktails 1990-2007 which deals with the concept of isolation with a warmth, humour and integrity rarely seen in other work tackling the subject, particularly photography. Each piece is encased in a unique 'found' wood frame, emphasising the naturalism in his work.

The American photographer Fazal Sheikh, nominated for his Steidl-published book Ladli, is an artist-activist who draws attention to social inequalities and prejudices. Ladli examines the low opinion the Indian culture has of females, with many young girls either being neglected or abused. Sheikh gives identity to what is a forgotten social stratum, conveying their pain through his powerful black-and-white portraits.

In 1979 British born John Davies undertook a project to document the post-industrial landscape of Britain. Over twenty-five years later the project is still ongoing, with the development and transformation of "our green and pleasant land" still intriguing and inspiring Davies. The relationship between the monumnetal and the banal has never been so attractive.

Finally, Jacob Holdt. Setting off to traverse America with only $40 and a $30 Canon Dial camera in his pocket, the Danish photographer undertook what would prove to be one hell of a story. From schmoozing with some of the richest in the US to observing the abject poverty many minorities in the early 1970s were forced to endure, Holdt captured the essence of what it was like to be an American at the time whilst reflecting the social and cultural inequalities that blighted the country.

The prize is one of the most prestigious in photography and with £30,000 at stake, the competition is going to be fierce. Pick your own winner from today.

The Deutsche Börse Photography Prize runs from 8th February until 6th April at The Photographers Gallery and is free.